The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has initiated a bold national employment program to link skilled and semi-skilled Kenyans with job opportunities abroad.
The Labor and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mutua, has stated that the project will start in Machakos County on Wednesday and will expand to at least 20 counties by the end of the year.
This program is included in the government’s overall plan to ensure that at least one million Kenyans secure jobs abroad every year, with the goal of increasing the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
The initial stage of the program, according to the government, will see approximately 21,000 Kenyans securing jobs abroad. These individuals will be recruited from various parts of the country.
Mutua explained that the goal is to allocate an equal number of resources to each county based on their specific skills.
Job openings exist in various countries such as Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Germany.
The available positions encompass roles such as housekeepers, car wash attendants, cleaners, drivers, and various other semi-skilled occupations.
According to the government, salaries will vary, with take-home pay ranging from Ksh.40,000 to as much as Ksh.1 million, contingent upon the specific job and its location.
While the interviews are offered at no cost, some candidates may need to cover processing fees.
CS Mutua indicated that the government is collaborating with several financial institutions to facilitate credit options.
“For instance, some countries request that we provide candidates for specific positions, but they must be located there. This necessitates arranging travel for those individuals, which means they cannot simply take a motorcycle taxi; they need to fly,” the CS explained.
When questioned about the safety of these workers, the CS responded, “Currently, there are over 3 million Kenyans living abroad. The issues faced by some affect less than 0.1 percent of our citizens overseas. We cannot discourage Kenyans from traveling abroad based on the experiences of a few. It is important to acknowledge that challenges exist everywhere.”
The government is urging qualified citizens to attend the interviews, reaffirming its dedication to addressing unemployment.
